The new SCC president said, “The executive elected today reflects the reality of Surrey and includes members of various age groups and backgrounds. We are proud to be Surrey’s only democratically-elected political organization and that’s reflected in the make-up of our organization and the fact that many of the executive positions actually went to an election.”

Robinson, who served 12 years on Surrey Council in the 1980s and `90s, said, “The current stranglehold Surrey First holds on Surrey Council isn’t healthy for democracy and it’s not good for Surrey. There is no one to stand up for Surrey or even ask important questions.”

He said SCC must reach out to everyone in Surrey who thinks they don`t have a voice at city hall, including the business community, ratepayers associations, labour, environmentalists, and “all the Surrey neighbourhoods who don’t think schools, roads and other infrastructure are keeping pace with development.”